Built-in bathroom ashtray



June 6, 1961 M. POPICK 2,987,360

BUILT-IN BATHROOM ASHTRAY Filed Dec. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a, V 20 METRO g E I CK BY M June 6, 1961 M. POPICK Filed Dec. '7, 1959 BUILTIN BATHROOM ASHTRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7- INVENTOR. N BYMETRO POPICK F United States Patent 2,987,360 BUILT-1N BATHROOM ASH'I'RAY Metro Popick, 727 Bronx River Road, Bronxville, N.Y. Filed Dec. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 857,654 Claims. (Cl. 312-240) This invention relates to smoking fixtures particularly of the fixed location type, i.e., the place of use is permanent. More particularly, the invention relates to smoking fixtures of the built-in variety such as are mounted, in the main, in a wall of a building and are substantially non-projecting from the face thereof, and to such as are closeable.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a smoking fixture of the above character that is simple in construction and installation, efiicient and safe in use, ornamentally attractive in appearance and inexpensive in cost.

Specifically, one of the main objects is to provide a coverable fixture of the above character wherein a cover, when not in use as such, serves as an ash tray for resting cigarettes, cigars and pipes, and as a receiver for ashes, butts and pipe debris.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fixture of the character above described ofsuch construction and arrangement of its component parts, that the parts as well as the smokers articles in use, are not obtrusive, and safe against accidental upsetting, as by brushing thereagainst, and the fixture body is not conducive to snagging the users body or clothing.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fixture and its component parts in condition for use, but apart from a wall in which it is adapted to be set.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2, and showing the device as set into a wall and ready for use.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of only the ash receiver part employed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front view like FIG. 2 but with the device in closed or covered condition.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, taken on the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5, with the parts in said closed position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower front portion of that shown in FIG. 6 but of a modified form thereof.

Like reference characters among the several views denote like or similar parts.

Accordingly, the fixture comprises a body part 10 and a tray part 12. These parts may be of moldable plastic or other suitable material, of the same or different characteristics or, in the instant illustrated case, may be of totally different materials, each most suitably adapted to its best particular function.

The body 10 shown, is preferably of a molded ceramic or other vitreous material with glazed finish on its visibly exposed surfaces as befits lavatory decor where this invention finds its most apt use. The tray 12 shown is preferably of sheet metal or other similar material that is not prone to breakage in handling during cleaning, knocking against hand surfaces, or upon dropping on a tile floor.

The body 10 is provided with a frontal frame portion 14 suitably beveled to provide ornamental as well as harmless and snag-proof surfaces. Set back from the frame portion 14, and integral therewith, is an open front, hollow, box-like portion 16 providing a recess or cavity 18. An inclined lip 20 projects forwardly and upwardly from the lower horizontal run of the frame portion, and is provided with end wall portions 22 integrally joining the ends of the lip portion to vertical runs of the frame near the bottoms thereof.

The end corners of the lip, at their juncture with the end wall portions 22, are well rounded to render them harmless to a person brushing thereagainst, and snagproof to his clothing.

The perimeter of the frame 14 is slightly larger than the outer perimeter of the box portion 16 thus forming a ledge surface 26 in back of the frame which is adapted to flush-up with the plane of the wall 24. It is to be understood that the body 10 may be made without this ledge and the flush-up characteristic can be had by co-planing the front edges of the bevel with the wall as indicated by the dot and dash lines 28 and 30, thus reducing the projectiveness of the lip to its optimum minimum. The lip may be set back also, if desired, so that no projection thereof is in front of the wall plane as shown in FIG. 7, thus producing a flush front type of unit.

Along the top ridge 32 of the lip 20, at the middle thereof, there is a finger notch 34 and, on each side of this notch there is provided a cigarette notch 36, the purposes and functions of which will be fully explained later herein.

The tray part 12 is adapted to snugly but removably fit in and along the bottom of the recess 18 and is provided with a bottom 46, side walls 42, and a back wall 44. An inclined Wall 46 runs along the angulated top surface of the lip and extends upwardly and forwardly to the level of the ridge 32 of the lip 20. This construction provides an ash tray of open top character except for an apron strip 48 that is disposed along the rear of the tray. The front part of the tray is, however, completely open at its top and is accessible for use while the rear part of the tray forms a pocket for holding ashes and debris, especially during removal for cleaning, at which time the tray is of necessity tilted, front upward.

The tray is adapted to be removed by finger-grasping the front edge thereof at the finger notch and lifting upward and forward. In this process the debris is confined in the pocket aforementioned.

In places adjacent to the cigarette slots 36 the front edge of the inclined wall 46 is turned back as at 50 to provide inward extensions for supporting a cigarette placed in the slots 36.

These slots 36 may be of such size and shape as to frictionally hold a cigarette and to snuff same when reached by the embers. Cigars and pipes may also be rested in the cigarette notches 36 and against the extensions 50. With this construction the major portions of the smoke articles are adapted, in use, to be disposed well within the recess of the fixture or the tray as the case may be.

The upper forward edge of the tray has several turned in portions as at 52, to form detent means, and the bottom rear corner of the tray is provided with a flute 54 adapted to rest on the ridge 32 of the lip when the tray is employed as a cover for closing off the front of the recess 18 of the body 10, as seen in FIG. 6. Reentrant means comprising a groove 56 and detent engaging edge 58 are adapted to cooperate with the detent edge 52 of the tray and hold same snugly in sprung position due to a slight oversize in dimension of the tray than that provided in the body along the line between the ridge 32 and the groove 56.

When it is desired to uncover the recess and place the device into use, the tray in position of FIG. 6 is finger 3 grasped along its sides '42 and pulled slightly upward and forward, thus snapping it out from its detented holding means, whereupon it can be placed in position for use as shown in FIG. 3. 7

Thus, as is readily seen, the removal and replacement of the tray from smoking use or cover position into its alternate other position is easily and simply accomplished.

It is to be noted that all the features aforementioned, as well as others, are obtained Without the. employment of separate mechanisms of extraneous moving parts, and the means for obtaining these features are inherent in the construction, arrangement and cooperative relationship of the parts comprising the whole of the device.

In the construction shown in FIG. 7, the reentrant detent groove, not shown, like that of thetshown form, is located in the nether face of the top wall of the body 16.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as a new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: V

1. In a smoking fixture of the character described, the combination of a body adapted to be fixed in a wall and having a cavity substantially well within the wall and presenting an open front, a lip integrally formed with said body having an inclined surface, a thin-walled tray adapted to removably fit in said cavity along its bottom and having an inclined portion adapted to be contiguously disposed along said inclined surface and terminating at the top of said lip in open or use position, a notch at the top of said lip adapted to leave a portion of said inclined portion of said tray exposed for finger gripping, and reentrant means in said body adapted to engage the terminating portion of said tray in closed position, whereby said tray 4 is removably engaged when resting on said lip and in closed position. 7

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the said tray is provided with a flute along the bottom of its rear wall, said flute adapted-to fit the top of said lip, and detent engaging means along its terminating edge adapted to engage said reentrant'means in the body.

3. In a smoking fixture of the character described the combination of a body having a-cav-ity presenting a front opening, a tray adapted to removably fit said cavity and lay along the bottom thereof, a lip along the bottom of said front opening, reentrant means parallel to said lip along the top of said cavity, said tray having detent means along its front upper edge and lip-fitting means along its rear'bottom edge, the dimension of said tray between said detent means and said lip-fitting means being related to the distance between said lip and said reentrant means whereby said tray is removably engageable in a position with the said lip-fitting means on said lip and said detent means engaged in said reentrant means, whereby said front opening is closeable by said tray in a substantially upright position. V

4. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the said front opening terminates substantially flush with said lip.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the said front .opening terminates substantially flush with said lip and said reentrant means is inside the top surface of said cavity and set back from the terminating plane of the front opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,852,652 Harris Apr. 5, 1932 1,888,251 Welland Nov. 22, 1932 2,288,637 ,Mauro July 7, 1942 2,505,324 Hendricks Apr. 25, 1950 2,652,838 Wolfe Sept. 22, 1953 

